allthisshitisweird | TEST DRIVE MEME!

Guess.

go on, guess.

Maybe the Inquisition sent you, maybe you came seeking the Inquisition. Maybe you fell out of a rift into this world last week and are still just trying to find your feet. However it happened, early fall finds you in the Hinterlands. Tucked between Ferelden's massive Lake Calenhad and the icy Frostback Mountains, the Hinterlands are a hilly region covered in patchy forests and small farms trying to eke out a living between the boulders. Though somewhat remote, the area is rich with game and minerals and home to Redcliffe, a bustling town on a busy trade route.

Lately the Hinterlands have also been full of mages and templars and rifts, all threatening to turn once-peaceful countryside into a dangerous warzone. The Inquisition has set up several camps and sent personnel to restore order to the region, unwilling to let it slip into chaos. There's a lot to be done, some of it straightforward killing bad things, some of it weird and nebulous morale-building.

1. BEARIED ALIVE

You have turned the wrong corner, forded the wrong stream, crested the wrong hill, entered the wrong cave. Maybe you are far from camp. Maybe you are in camp. Whatever has happened, wherever you are: you are being chased by bears. Did you provoke the bears? Are they huge? Babies? Fade-touched? Mage-controlled? What are they chasing you away from? What are they chasing you into? What do you plan to make out of their hide if you kill them? What do you think they'll craft out of your hide if they kill you?

2. NICE PLACE FOR A SPOT OF CAMPING

If there were an inn, which there's not, there wouldn't be room for you in it. Traveling with the Inquisition means carrying your own bedrolls, putting up your own tents, and sleeping alongside whoever you've been told to share with--no matter how much you hate them or how loud they snore. If you really can't stand it, the alternative is sleeping outside. On the ground. With the bears.

3. A BIG CRAZY LIGHT IN THE SKY

Not everyone thinks the Breach was a bad thing. In the southeastern mountains, a burgeoning cult has taken up residence in Winterwatch Tower to wait patiently for the Maker to reach through the tears in the veil and gather the faithful to his bosom. They're a little kooky, maybe, but harmless, and they're happy enough to share their wine and lager with travelers in the area. The demon-spewing rift behind the Tower, on the other hand... Too bad the Herald didn't close that thing before she bit it. Watch your step.

4. TROUBLE IN THE DEEP

The Carta is everywhere, but it's here in force, occupying dwarven ruins in a chasm behind a waterfall. Inquisition forces have already cleared most of the smugglers out of the hold, but there's still a vault to break into, bodies to loot, and old texts to search through for anything worth adding to the Inquisition's growing archives. Also: darkspawn. Sorry.

5. CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE

Hunt game, kill demons, gather herbs, track bandits, haggle over the price of armor, fall off a deceptively tall rock, get lost circling the same hill ten times trying to find a way up to the weird glowing skull on a stick you can see is up there, climb trees or abandoned towers, rummage around in empty homes, run from a dragon, cry over how cute that fennec fox you just shot was, set up camp and chat around the fire, knock yourself out (figuratively, or even literally if that's more your speed)-- the Hinterlands are your ~~Frostback Mountain~~ oyster.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Ahh... thank you.

[It's still a lot better than the shape he'd started in, as the heal spell washes over him. So much better. He breathes a sigh of relief. At least he'll be able to make it back now... it had been rather questionable before.]

You'll certainly find them there, they've set up a camp.

[Inessa shoves a healing potion into his hand as well, having a few on her.]

That's good to hear. I was certainly hoping that others had escaped Orlais. I, however, arrive directly from the Anderfels. From Weisshaupt, our headquarters.

[There's no particular note of pride there; weariness, if anything. It's a long story and no one she's sure she has the stamina to relay just yet.]

Perhaps I should set up camp here. The sun's getting low in the sky, and unless I'm mistaken, there isn't an Inquisition camp near us.

[Oh, right. Kain definitely gets the hint as she gives him the potion. He feels a lot better, but he knows it’s not right to refuse it. He doesn’t want to risk her opening the thing and splashing it over his head like Tifa. So he opens it to slowly drink it down.]

Well, you’ll be able to speak with them soon. It’s not too far to get back... [He points in the direction that leads toward Skyhold.] I wouldn’t mind starting off… [Except, blah, he’s so weary even if he’s much more healed now. Grrr. Looks like he has no choice.] ...or staying here is fine.

[At least he's cooperating, a good sign. Inessa merely raises an eyebrow at the notion of Kain departing for anywhere at the moment. Fortunately, he gives in to common sense before she has to point out his weariness.]

Indeed. I'll start a campfire for us. There's always the risk it will attract attention, but we'll need the warmth. It won't take long.

[She may not have fire magic, but traveling has taught her how to make a campfire well enough without one.]

Ah… well… thank you.

[On his own, Kain definitely would have pushed on to try and make it back sooner. He’d have been even more exhausted and would have definitely felt the aftermath the next day… so perhaps it was a good thing he’d come across the lost Warden out here.]

I’ll get Zephyr settled in for now, in that case. It won’t be terribly far to travel in the morning, fortunately.

A first stop to Redcliffe Village, for potions and supplies. I am running low on both.

[And she already suspects that Kain doesn't take of himself as well as he should. It's a chronic soldier problem, she's discovered. Garahel stands guard as she clears a space and gathers firewood, thankful that it's dry enough to ignite without much of an issue. When that's all set, she'll gesture for Garahel to act as support for his other side while they get him to the first.]

Well... I suppose it wouldn't be too out of the way to make such a stop. That's fine.

[Kain sighs, getting that she's already catching on to him. He's the absolute worst when it comes to this sort of thing, and it's only gotten even worse since he became a Reaver and started actively encouraging his foes to hit him. He fights better when he's taken a few hits, though, the dragon blood made him stronger. Too bad the aftermath usually isn't so great.]

[He makes sure Zephyr is ready to settle in for the time being, while she's going about getting the firewood. He tries to be stubborn about it, but when Garahel is right there, it's hard to refuse the support. So he leans on him as he comes over, then glances toward the mabari (it's always easier accepting assistance from non-humans).]

...Thank you.

[Garahel's wuff clearly means 'you're welcome' and he nuzzles Kain gently, not enough to knock him over. Once Kain's settled by the fire, Inessa seats herself on a nearby boulder, grateful to be off her feet for a little while. Food can wait.

Well, at least according to her. Garahel seems to have other ideas, and plops down by his mistress' pack, looking at her expectantly.]

Oh, you're shameless. But I suppose you've earned a small treat. Here.

[Fishing out a mabari crunch from its wrappings, Inessa tosses it. Garahel goes streaking after, pouncing on it with all due enthusiasm.]

You'd think he didn't enjoy fresh rabbit earlier. No, he's clearly starving.

[Kain can’t resist the mabari charm, petting him as he nuzzles him. It does feel good to settle in, he’d used his dumb logic to say he was just fine upon his dracolisk since he himself wasn’t walking, but it still took a lot more exertion than simply sitting down and relaxing.]

[He gives a dry sort-of laugh at the sight of the hungry mabari.]

I have a bird who’s the same way about food. Or, more aptly, the bird has me. It never ends. [He watches Garahel for a moment.] He must make for a highly valuable companion.

He is. I don't think I would have managed the last couple of years without him.

[At mention of a bird, Inessa glances around. She had been focused on the soldier atop the dracolisk, not looking for anything accompanying him.]

Did your bird follow you?

Non-human companions are the best kind.

[Dragons especially, but he knows better than to bring that up right away with people around here. He shakes his head.]

He doesn't have much of a head for adventure, the lazy Bastard. He follows me most everywhere I go around Skyhold, though.

TEST DRIVE MEME!

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